Peaky Grinders

Peaky Grinders

Serotonin

A new play on mental health, performed as part of the Camden Fringe, August 13th-16th 2017.

Serotonin

Serotonin is a play set in the smoking area of a psychiatric hospital. Three people smoke there, for three different reasons.

Synopsis

Jack has depression. He tried to kill himself and is resentful that he failed. Alfie has bipolar disorder, and relies on the support around him to stop him from losing control. Sarah? She must be normal - she works there.

Digging deeper, we find that there's more to our three characters than how their medical history defines them. Jack is an addict, used to numbing his niggling lack of self-confidence with alcohol - and would kill for a drop on the inside as he struggles to cope in an unfamiliar world. Alfie grew up in a testosterone-filled family, and is consequently struggling to come to terms with his own masculinity (or perceived lack of it). Sarah became a social worker to deal with her own family trauma, hoping that by helping others it may alleviate her guilt.

Over the course of our narrative, with the use of spoken word poetry, we invite the question of medication versus spirituality, and society’s current mental health perspectives, attempting to encourage an important conversation regarding male suicide and its prevalence in modern times.

Billy trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, and has since performed in a wide range of roles:

A Serious Case of the Fuckits – Eimear – Anna Jordan

Shibboleth– Brid – The New Studio

Sleepover – Morgan – Green Door Store

The Cripple of Inishmaan – Helen – Fortune Theatre

The Heresy of Love – Juanita – The Embassy Theatre

On Raftery's Hill – Shalome – Samuel Beckett Theatre

ROWAN JACOBS (Director)

Serotonin being his first foray into theatre,Rowan's film work to date has been featured in VICE (But They Can’t Break Stones, a documentary about women’s rights in Nepal), and screened at film festivals worldwide.

The Silver Kings, his first feature film (starring Millin Thomas), told the story of three friends who break into their drug dealer’s house, throw a party, and get into a spot of bother along the way. His second feature, Carbon Monoxide Dreaming, is scheduled for a 2018 release.